The C-TRAN Board of Directors decided April 13 to put off until May a vote on whether to drop participation in the Columbia River Crossing/light rail project or to pursue new options for funding the operation of light rail.
In the meantime, the board will meet Tues., April 30, 5 p.m., to take public comment on the participation-withdrawal question and to gather more information from Columbia River Crossing (CRC) officials.
The board plans to vote on the issue during a meeting set for Tues., May 14.
Board members exchanged views on the subject during a 4 1/2 hour retreat meeting April 13.
Consideration was given to withdrawing from involvement in the operation of light rail and ceding the matter to the City of Vancouver. In that case, the city would be responsible for the estimated $2.5 million annual light rail operating cost and for maintenance of stations and parking facilities.
Vancouver Mayor Tim Leavitt said the Vancouver City Council had not formally discussed taking on light rail responsibility, although he has reviewed the matter with C-TRAN officials. He did not rule out council willingness to handle the controversial light rail issue, but, he said, “C-TRAN should be the one to take up that obligation and no one else.”
David Madore, a C-TRAN board member and Clark County commissioner, raised several questions that he said need to be addressed before a decision on participation or withdrawal can be made.
Leavitt said he doubted that more information would change any board member’s mind, and that the board should proceed with a decision.
C-TRAN Executive Director Jeff Hamm provided a time line for board decisions, leading to a funding commitment to the federal government later this year.
Hamm said that if the board decides to proceed with the light rail project, then funding needs to be arranged. He listed several funding options, some of which could be combined, to come up with the needed money.
Funding options include a tax on employers based on number of employees; a tax on car rentals; a fare surcharge on light rail tickets; savings from the elimination of three bus routes that presently connect Vancouver with Portland; parking fees at Park and Ride facilities; a sales tax “windfall” from construction of the bridge project itself; and creation of commercial and retail space at Park and Ride lots.
Hamm also said that funding could come from the creation of a Transportation Benefit District, an increase in planned bridge tolls, or certain federal funds already distributed to the area through the Regional Transportation Council.
Hamm noted that a decision from the state attorney general is due by late May on whether funding for light rail needs to be approved by a vote of the people.
The board gave little attention to funding options.
“If this agency does not support light rail, CRC would come to a stop,” said Leavitt.
Madore questioned whether a project financing plan, which is part of the official Record of Decision for CRC, could be changed at this late date. He quoted Washington Governor Jay Inslee as saying recently that “it’s now or never” for the CRC project, and that federal funding for light rail would disappear if the project is delayed. “Is that true?” questioned Madore.
The board gave passing consideration to another try at a ballot measure to secure funding. A sales tax hike to pay for light rail failed last November, as it did in 1995.
Board member Larry Smith urged the board to assume responsibility for light rail funding. He emphasized the number of jobs that the project would create and the amount of wages that would be earned by Clark County residents.
Steve Stuart, a C-TRAN board member and county commissioner, said light rail would better connect people to their community and would move more people more efficiently than buses. It would also support Vancouver’s downtown redevelopment efforts, he said.
Board Member Bart Hansen complained that Vancouver has only three of nine seats on the C-TRAN board but generates 60 percent of public transit funding.
Madore noted that the CRC is described as an international freight corridor. “We are violating the basics of logic,” he said. “Light rail doesn’t carry any freight.”
Board Chair Bill Ganley, who represents both Battle Ground and Yacolt, said the Yacolt council opposes the project, while the Battle Ground council discussed support for the bridge but not light rail.
Ganley said light rail is a symbol of Portland. “Do we need light rail in these economic times?” questioned Ganley.
Board Member and County Commissioner Tom Mielke decried what he sees as a lack of transparency by project planners and “a lack of truthfulness.” He pointed to continuing gas tax increases that had already been used to pay for planned projects.
Leavitt listed the benefits of light rail. “You cannot build your way out of traffic congestion,” he said. “It would be an absolute, abject failure of leadership around this board if we don’t work for the CRC project.”
Leavitt said calls for more information “just distract from the main question: are we as an agency going to shirk our responsibility?”
“I am insulted to be accused of shirking my responsibility,” said Connie Freeman, C-TRAN board member and Washougal council member, who noted that her council does not support the CRC plan in its current form.
“CRC has been invited to two events and no one showed,” said Freeman.
Retreat facilitator Richard Howells listed several unanswered questions:
• Was a prior board decision to seek public votes on light rail funding matters legal?
• Is C-TRAN bound by the federal Record of Decision?
• What is the status of federal funding?
• What is the impact of delayed board action on federal funding?
The board did not decide where to hold its April 30 special meeting. Information on that matter could be obtained by calling C-TRAN spokesman Scott Patterson at C-TRAN, (360) 904-9638.
The board’s May 14 meeting will be held at the Vancouver Community Library, 901 C Street, Vancouver.
Marvin Case may be reached at (360) 687-4122 and at marvincase@msn.com.
